Adjustable cut-off gauging device

ABSTRACT

An adjustable cut-off gauging device for controlling the length of sheets derived from web material such as a roll of copy paper in a copymaking machine comprises a body mounted for adjustable movement along a runner bar and carrying a control switch for a cut-off actuating solenoid as triggered by a trip member on a reciprocable part of the associated apparatus such as the original document carriage of a so-called book copier electrostatic machine. In addition to major adjustments of the device along the runner bar, minor incremental adjustments of an operating handle are adapted to be effected to attain accurate settings with respect to an adjustment scale.

ADJUSTABLE CUT-OFF GAUGING DEVICE Inventor: David F. Wolff, Glen Ellyn, lll.

Assignee: Yorktown lndustries, Inc, Addison,

Ill.

Filed: June 19, 1972 Appl. No.: 263,856

US. Cl. 83/205, 83/241 lnt. Cl 826d 5/00 Field of Search 83/203, 205, 241, 363,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS l/l965 l2/l969 l0/l97l 3/1972 Francis et al. 83/363 X Lipfert 83/205 Komori 355/13 Suzuki 83/205 X [11] 3,813,975 June 4, 1974 Primary ExaminerJ. M. Mcister 1 Attorney, Agent, or FirmHill, Sherman, Meroni. Gross & Simpson 57 ABSTRACT An adjustable cut-off gauging device for controlling the length of sheets derived from web material such as a roll of copy paper in a copymaking machine comprises a body mounted for adjustablemovement along a runner bar and carrying a control switch for a cutoff actuating solenoid as triggered by a trip member on a reciprocable part of the associated apparatus such as the original document carriage of a so-called book copier electrostatic machine. in addition to major adjustments of the device along the runner bar, minor incremental adjustments of an operating handle are adapted to be effected to attain accurate settings with respect to an adjustment scale.

17 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUN 41974 SHU 10? 2 ADJUSTABLE CUT-OFF GAUGING DEVICE This invention relates to adjustable cut-off gauging devices and is more particularly concerned with such devices especially suitable for use in copymaking machines of the electrostatic type wherein copy paper is supplied from rolls and must be severed into suitable sheet lengths which must from time-to-time be varied to match the lengths of the originals, such as documents, to be copied.

Control of sheet lengths corresponding to length of an original to be copied in a copymaking machine has presented various problems among which may be mentioned accessibility of control devices, difficulty in attaining optimum control, difficulty in making accurate adjustments, and the like. Further, control devices heretofore have generally involved complex structures or arrangements that are unduly liable to wear, failure and shifting out of adjustment, and complexities involving uneconomical and oftentimes inefficient arrangements.

It is accordingly an important object of the present invention to overcome the foregoing and other disadvantages, deficiencies, inefficiencies, shortcomings and problems in prior constructions and to attain important advantages and improvements in an adjustable cut-off gauging device according to the present invention.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved adjustable cut-off gauging device especially suitable for use in controlling copy sheet lengths in roll-fed copying machines.

A further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved adjustable cut-off gauging device which is simple in construction, efficient in operation and exceedingly simple to manipulate to attain the desired results. I

Still another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved adjustable cut-off gauging device of the character indicated which is adapted not only for major adjustments but also minor adjustments to attain optimum results.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, although variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts embodied in the disclosure, and in which:

FIG. I is a perspective view of a copying machine of the electrostatic type embodying features of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional detail view taken substantially along the line II-Il of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional detail view taken substantially along the line IlI-III of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing details of the adjustable cut-off gauging device and mounting means.

By way of example of a principal use-for the present invention, a copymaking machine 5 (FIGS. 1-3) is shown which comprises a cabinet having a side wall 7 and a front wall 8 provided in the lower portion thereof with an opening into a copy receptacle chamber 9. A top wall 10 on the cabinet has mounted for reciprocation in a front-to-rear direction an original document or book supporting carriage 11 provided with a window l2 and a flexible hold-down cover 13 which can be lifted to place a document or book on the carriage over the window 12 for scanning byan optical system and projection on a copy sheet for electrostatic printing and developing and then delivery to the receptacle chamber 9. This process is well known and is therefore not illustrated in detail. In effecting scanning of the document to be copied, the carriage i1 is moved by suitable drive means (not shown) forwardly on runners 14 having portions thereof extending down through slots 15 into the top wall 10 and riding along tracks 17 extending longitudinally within the cabinet between the side walls and respective inwardly spaced vertical compartment panels 18 parallel to the outer wall panels. After each document scanning, the carriage 11 is moved back to the starting position. Copy paper which may be of the electrostatically sensitizable coated type is supplied in the machine from a roll 19 suitably rotatably mounted in a magazine 20 under the rear portion of the top wall 10. From the roll 19, the paper is drawn as a continuous web 21 over a straightening bar 22 rearwardly by means of a driven friction roller 23 overlying the web and drivingly pressing against an idler roller 24 to drive the web under a holddown bar 25 which presses it against a horizontally supported shear blade 27 with which a rotarycutter 28 is cooperable to sever desired sheet lengths of the paper from the web after such sheet lengths have been fed into a guide structure 29 leading to an electrostatic charging and exposure means and thence to development means located conveniently at the rear of the cabinet and in a path which ends at the receptacle chamber 9.

Web cut-off operation of the rotary cutter 28 is desirably effected at high speed while the copy material web 21 is advanced by the feed roller 23 during reciprocal operation of the carriage 11. For this purpose, means comprising an actuating solenoid 30 (FIG. 2) suitably mounted on the outer side of the inner wall panel 18 nearest the outer side wall panel 7, has its armature 31 connected by a link 32 to a rock lever arm 33 fixedly secured as by means of a screw 34 to an end portion 35 of a journal 37 on the adjacent end of the cutter bar 28 rotatably supported in a bearing 38 mounted in the panel 18. In this instance, the solenoid 30 is conveniently mounted under the rock lever 33 and the link 32 connected to the rock lever in a manner to effect limited rocking of the cutter bar by upward thrust, as indicated by directional arrow in FIG. 2, just sufficient to rock the cutter bar in a clean web severing stroke and then rapidly returning, aided by dropping of the armature 31 due to its relatively strong gravitational bias, thereby quickly opening the path for continued advance of the leading end of the severed web past the cutters to a readyposition for a following copy sheet demand.

According to the present invention, advantageous new and improved means are provided for selecting the length of copy sheets, by controlling the cut-off blade actuating means. In a simple and efficient arrangement, means for this purpose include an adjustably mounted normally open switch 39 for controlling operation of the solenoid 30. Operation of the switch 39 is effected through means of a trip arm 40 carried fixedly by the carriage I] for engaging and tripping an actuating lever 41 for closing the switch in each operating reciprocation of the carriage, thereby to effect energizing of the solenoid 30 and thus actuation of the cutter bar 28 to sever a sheet length from the advancing copy material web 2ll. Electrical connection between the switch 39 and the solenoid is effected by means of an electrical lead 42 secured at one end to a suitable contact of the switch and at its opposite end to a suitable contact of the solenoid. Respective additional leads 43 and 44 from the switch and the solenoid are connected in an electrical control circuit, not shown, of the machine 5 for determining operation of the carriage ill and the feed roller 23.

Mounting of the switch 39 in a manner to enable tripping of the lever 41 by the arm precisely at the point in movement of the carriage 11 at which it is desired to operate the cutter is effected means of a carrier 45 constructed and arranged to be adjustably supported on a fixed runner bar 47 mounted longitudinally under the trip arm 40. For this purpose, the bar 47 is desirably mounted to the frame structure of the machine 5, as for example by means of a pair of rigid cantilever arms 48 (FIGS. 2 and 4) one of which is respectively secured to each opposite end portion of the bar 47 as by means of a screw 49, while the opposite end of the supporting arm is secured as by means of a screw 50 to the panel 18. By preference the bar 47 is a relatively thin rigid member having its major transverse dimension extending vertically, and the carrier 45 is constructed to ride along the longitudinal edge portions of the bar provid ing tracks for the carrier.

In an economical, efficient construction, the carrier 45 desirably comprises a pair of preferably reversibly complementary identical members in the form of panels arranged to be secured together on opposite sides of the bar 47 and to engage the bar slidably therebetween. To this end, the panels 51 are desirably formed as cast self-sustaining plastic members made from material such as an acetal resin available under the trademark Delrin. Along the upper and lower margins ofone face each of the panels 5! has respective joining ribs 52 which are engageable in coextensive abutment with the like rib of the companion panel along the respective edges of the bar 47, and serving as spacersfor the body portions of the panels relative to the faces of the bar. Runner engagement of the bar edges is effected in runner grooves 53 provided at the inner sides of the ribs 52. Through this arrangement, the carrier panels 51 are adapted to be secured together by means of machine screws 54 extending through the ribs 52 to draw the ribs of the companion panels together with the runner bar margins engaged in the runner grooves 53.. Mounting of the body of the switch 39 on one of the panels 51, herein the innermost one, is desirably effected-by means of machine screws 55.

Means are provided for yieldably retaining the carrier 45 in adjusted position along the bar 47 with sufficient resistance to longitudinal displacement to satisfy operating requirements, but enabling ready slidable adjustment of the carrier along the bar. In an efficient structure, frictional drag means are provided on the carrier panels 51 in engagement with the respective opposite faces of the bar 47. Accordingly, each of the panels is provided with an inwardly offset integral friction pad 57 which is strongly resiliently connected to the panel spaced from the respective ribs 52 and in the mounted runner bar engaging united relation of the carrier panels thrusting under resilient tension against the runner bar. Thereby balanced frictional gripping by the pads 57 holds the carrier in any adjusted position,

but longitudinal adjustment of the carrier along the bar 47 is enabled by manual applied force to slide the carrier into any preferred readjusted position.

For conveniently effecting adjustments of the carrier 45 along the bar 47 from outside the machine cabinet even though the device is mounted in the space between the wall panel 7 and the inner frame panel 18, a handle 58 is provided to extend from the carrier 45 outwardly through a horizontal elongated slot 59 in the wall panel 7 (FIGS. 1 and 2). On its outer end portion the handle is provided with a manipulating knob 60 which has means such as an index mark 61 on its upper surface adapted to register with an incremental sheet length gauging scale located on the outer face of the wall panel 7 above and parallel to the clearance slot 59, and which slot is at least as long as the scale and preferably slightly longer to accommodate the handle 58 at opposite ends of the scale. Location of the scale 62 longitudinally along the wall 7 is correlated in an opera tional sense with a document length gauging scale 63 along the rear end portion of the adjacent side of the carriage 11 whereby the length of the document can be readily visualized when the document is properly placed on the carriage with one end of the document in proper position at the front of the carriage and the trailing end of the document aligned with the scale 63. Thus, by setting the handle 58 through its knob 60 to effect registration of the index mark 61 with the point on the scale 62 which corresponds to the point of registration of the trailing end of the document with the scale 63, selection of corresponding copy sheet length is effected.

Mounting of the handle 58 on the carrier 45 is desirably effected in a manner enabling minutely incremental adjustments of the handle horizontally to compensate for any variables that may be present initially or subsequently developed in the registration of the trip arm 40 with the switch arm 41. To this end, the handle 58 is desirably constructed as a metal stamping projecting outwardly from an integral mounting panel 64 provided with respective opposite end aligned and oppositely opening screw slots 65 adapted to receive the shanks of the screws 54 along the upper margin of the outer panel 51, and which screws have their heads accessible at the .outer side of the mounting panel 64, aligned with the slot 59 so that a tool such as a screwdriver can be readily inserted through the slot 59 to the screw heads for loosening them, adjusting the handle member horizontally as desired relative to the carrier 45 and then tightening the screws to secure the handle member fast in properly adjusted position. Such manipulation of the securing screws 54 is readily enabled by having the nuts thereof received in suitably countersunk complementary recesses 67 in the outer face of the opposite carrier panel. While this feature is shown at the bottom margin of the carrier panel as seen in FIG. 4, it will be appreciated that the same feature is in complementary relation at the top margin of the inner of the panels 51 in the assembly. It will thus be appreciated that extremely accurate sheet length selection is here enabled by manually setting the carriage 45 through the handle 58.

In operation, during each outward movement in the cycle of operation of the carriage 11, the trip arm 40 will trip the microswitch closing lever 41 momentarily to momentarily energize the solenoid 30 by which the cutter is activated, the switch automatically opening as the trip arm 40 leaves the lever 41 and thus promptly enabling the cutter to return to inactive position. On the return movement in the cycle of the carriage 11, the switch 39 will remain inactive in the machine control circuit so that the switch lever 41 will idle as the trip arm 40 coasts in return with the carriage.

It will be understood that variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of this invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination with a copymakingmachine or the like including a part which reciprocates in operation and during which operation web material is fed from a roll past acutter having means for selectively operating the cutter to sever the web into predetermined sheet lengths:

a runner bar of angular cross section extending longitudinally adjacent to the path of said part and providing flat longitudinal track surfaces;

a gauging device comprising a carrier body having runner groove structures engaging said track surfaces, rectilinearly slidably mounting the body on said bar for longitudinal movement therealong;

a control unit mounted on said body;

means on said control unit and said part for operating said control unit during movement of said part in one reciprocal direction to effect operation of said cutter operating means; and i v a projection extending from said body operable for slidably shifting the body adjustably along said bar.

2. A combination according to claim 1, wherein said bar is a thin rigid member having opposite longitudinal edges providing said track surfaces, and said runner groove structure providing spaced opposed grooves within which said track edges are guidingly engaged.

3. A combination according to claim 1, wherein said body comprises a pair of body panels secured together with said bar therebetween, each of said panels providing part of said groove structure.

4. A combination according to claim 1, including means to maintain said body adjustably along said bar.

5. A combination according to claim 4, said means for maintaining the body along the bar comprising friction tab means engaging an adjacent face of the bar.

6. A combination according to claim 2, said body comprising a pair of body panels together with said bar therebetween and each of said panels providing part of each of the grooves.

7. A combination according to-claim 6, each of said panels having a friction pad engaging and adjacent face of said bar.

8. A device according to claim 1, said projecting member comprising a handle, and means adjustably securing said handle on said body.

9. A device according to claim 8, said handle comprising a mounting plate engageable with the body, said mounting plate having elongated screw apertures, and screws securing said mounting plate to the body and said elongated apertures enabling adjustmentsof the handle relative to the body by shifting of the plate relative to the body while the screws are loosened.

10. In combination with a copymaking machine or the like including a part which reciprocates in operation and during which operation web material is fed from a roll past a cutter having means for selectively operating the cutter to sever the web into predetermined sheet lengths:

a runner bar extending longitudinally adjacent to the path of reciprocation of said part;

5 a gauging device comprising a body slidably mounted on said bar;

means on said body maintaining said device adjustably relative to said bar;

a control unit mounted on said body;

means on said control unit and said part for operating said control unit during movement of said part in one reciprocal direction to effect operation of said cutter operating means;

a projection extending from said body operable for shifting the body adjustably along said bar;

said projecting means comprising a handle;'and

means for adjusting said handle relative to said body.

11. A combination according to claim 10, said handle comprising a mounting plate engageable with the body:

said mounting plate having elongated screw apertures; and v screws securing said mounting plate to the body and said elongated apertures enabling adjustments of the handle relative to the body by shifting of the plate relative to the body while the screws are loosened.

12. In combination with a copymaking machine or the like including a part which reciprocates in operation and during which operation web material is fed from a roll past a cutter having means for selectively operating the cutter to sever the web into predetermined sheet lengths:

a runner bar extending longitudinally adjacent to the path of reciprocation of said part;

a gauging device having a body constructed to receive said bar therethrough whereby the body is longitudinally adjustable along the bar;

control means on said body;

said control means and said part including means arranged to contact during reciprocations of said part to effect operation of said control means to operate said cutter operating means;

a member projecting from said body to facilitate moving the body along said bar;

a pair of body panels forming said body;

means securing said body panels together;

said panels defining therebetween a space for receiving said runner bar therethrough.

13. A device according to claim 12, including grooves defined by said panels within said space and adapted to receive track edges of a runner bar.

14. A device according to claim 12, said panels being molded self-sustaining plastic members, each of said panels having an integral resiliently connected friction pad projecting into said space and frictionally engageable with the runner.

15. In combination with a copymaking machine or the like including a part which reciprocates in operation and during which operation web material is fed from a roll past a cutter having means for selectively operating the cutter to sever the web into predetermined sheet lengths:

a runner bar extending longitudinally adjacent to the path of reciprocation of said part;

a gauging device having a body constructed to receive said bar therethrough whereby the body is longitudinally adjustable along the bar;

control means on said body;

said control means and said part including means arranged to contact during reciprocations of said part to effect operation of said control means to operate said cutter operating means;

a handle projecting from said body to facilitate moving the body along said bar;

said handle comprising a mounting plate engageable with the body;

said mounting plate having elongated screw apertures; and

screws securing said mounting plate to the body and said elongated apertures enabling adjustments of the handle relative to the body by shifting of the plate relative to the body while the screws are loosened.

16. In combination with a copymaking machine including a document supporting carriage which reciprocates in operation and during which operation web material is fed from a roll past a cutter having means for selectively operating the cutter to sever the web into predetermined sheet lengths:

a runner extending longitudinally adjacent to the path of reciprocation of said carriage;

a gauging device having a body constructed to receive said bar therethrough whereby the body is longitudinally adjustable along the bar;

control means on said body; 7

said control means and said carriage including means arranged to effect operation of said control means to operate said cutter operating means;

a member projecting from said body to facilitate moving the body along said bar;

means providing a scale parallel to said runner bar and in fixed position adjacent to said projecting member for registration of gauging means on the member with selected positions along said scale to control sheet lengths into which the web will be severed; and

a scale on said carriage which cooperates with one end of a document on the carriage for indicating the length of the document;

said scales being coordinated so that when the gauging means on the projecting member is registered with the scale parallel to the runner bar at a point coordinated with the point along the carriage scale aligned with the end of the document a sheet length will be cut from said web matching the length of the document upon contact of said contact means of the control means and the carriage.

17. A combination according to claim 16, including means adjustably mounting said projecting member on said body so that the member can be properly adjusted thereon to assure accurate coordination with the carriage scale marking aligned with the document end when the gauging means on said projecting member registers with the corresponding marking on the scale extending parallel to the runner bar. 

1. In combination with a copymaking machine or the like including a part which reciprocates in operation and during which operation web material is fed from a roll past a cutter having means for selectively operating the cutter to sever the web into predetermined sheet lengths: a runner bar of angular cross section extending longitudinally adjacent to the path of said part and providing flat longitudinal track surfaces; a gauging device comprising a carrier body haVing runner groove structures engaging said track surfaces, rectilinearly slidably mounting the body on said bar for longitudinal movement therealong; a control unit mounted on said body; means on said control unit and said part for operating said control unit during movement of said part in one reciprocal direction to effect operation of said cutter operating means; and a projection extending from said body operable for slidably shifting the body adjustably along said bar.
 2. A combination according to claim 1, wherein said bar is a thin rigid member having opposite longitudinal edges providing said track surfaces, and said runner groove structure providing spaced opposed grooves within which said track edges are guidingly engaged.
 3. A combination according to claim 1, wherein said body comprises a pair of body panels secured together with said bar therebetween, each of said panels providing part of said groove structure.
 4. A combination according to claim 1, including means to maintain said body adjustably along said bar.
 5. A combination according to claim 4, said means for maintaining the body along the bar comprising friction tab means engaging an adjacent face of the bar.
 6. A combination according to claim 2, said body comprising a pair of body panels together with said bar therebetween and each of said panels providing part of each of the grooves.
 7. A combination according to claim 6, each of said panels having a friction pad engaging and adjacent face of said bar.
 8. A device according to claim 1, said projecting member comprising a handle, and means adjustably securing said handle on said body.
 9. A device according to claim 8, said handle comprising a mounting plate engageable with the body, said mounting plate having elongated screw apertures, and screws securing said mounting plate to the body and said elongated apertures enabling adjustments of the handle relative to the body by shifting of the plate relative to the body while the screws are loosened.
 10. In combination with a copymaking machine or the like including a part which reciprocates in operation and during which operation web material is fed from a roll past a cutter having means for selectively operating the cutter to sever the web into predetermined sheet lengths: a runner bar extending longitudinally adjacent to the path of reciprocation of said part; a gauging device comprising a body slidably mounted on said bar; means on said body maintaining said device adjustably relative to said bar; a control unit mounted on said body; means on said control unit and said part for operating said control unit during movement of said part in one reciprocal direction to effect operation of said cutter operating means; a projection extending from said body operable for shifting the body adjustably along said bar; said projecting means comprising a handle; and means for adjusting said handle relative to said body.
 11. A combination according to claim 10, said handle comprising a mounting plate engageable with the body: said mounting plate having elongated screw apertures; and screws securing said mounting plate to the body and said elongated apertures enabling adjustments of the handle relative to the body by shifting of the plate relative to the body while the screws are loosened.
 12. In combination with a copymaking machine or the like including a part which reciprocates in operation and during which operation web material is fed from a roll past a cutter having means for selectively operating the cutter to sever the web into predetermined sheet lengths: a runner bar extending longitudinally adjacent to the path of reciprocation of said part; a gauging device having a body constructed to receive said bar therethrough whereby the body is longitudinally adjustable along the bar; control means on said body; said control means and said part including means arranged to contact during reciprocations of said part to effect operation of said control means to operate said cutter operating means; a member projecting from said body to facilitate moving the body along said bar; a pair of body panels forming said body; means securing said body panels together; said panels defining therebetween a space for receiving said runner bar therethrough.
 13. A device according to claim 12, including grooves defined by said panels within said space and adapted to receive track edges of a runner bar.
 14. A device according to claim 12, said panels being molded self-sustaining plastic members, each of said panels having an integral resiliently connected friction pad projecting into said space and frictionally engageable with the runner.
 15. In combination with a copymaking machine or the like including a part which reciprocates in operation and during which operation web material is fed from a roll past a cutter having means for selectively operating the cutter to sever the web into predetermined sheet lengths: a runner bar extending longitudinally adjacent to the path of reciprocation of said part; a gauging device having a body constructed to receive said bar therethrough whereby the body is longitudinally adjustable along the bar; control means on said body; said control means and said part including means arranged to contact during reciprocations of said part to effect operation of said control means to operate said cutter operating means; a handle projecting from said body to facilitate moving the body along said bar; said handle comprising a mounting plate engageable with the body; said mounting plate having elongated screw apertures; and screws securing said mounting plate to the body and said elongated apertures enabling adjustments of the handle relative to the body by shifting of the plate relative to the body while the screws are loosened.
 16. In combination with a copymaking machine including a document supporting carriage which reciprocates in operation and during which operation web material is fed from a roll past a cutter having means for selectively operating the cutter to sever the web into predetermined sheet lengths: a runner extending longitudinally adjacent to the path of reciprocation of said carriage; a gauging device having a body constructed to receive said bar therethrough whereby the body is longitudinally adjustable along the bar; control means on said body; said control means and said carriage including means arranged to effect operation of said control means to operate said cutter operating means; a member projecting from said body to facilitate moving the body along said bar; means providing a scale parallel to said runner bar and in fixed position adjacent to said projecting member for registration of gauging means on the member with selected positions along said scale to control sheet lengths into which the web will be severed; and a scale on said carriage which cooperates with one end of a document on the carriage for indicating the length of the document; said scales being coordinated so that when the gauging means on the projecting member is registered with the scale parallel to the runner bar at a point coordinated with the point along the carriage scale aligned with the end of the document a sheet length will be cut from said web matching the length of the document upon contact of said contact means of the control means and the carriage.
 17. A combination according to claim 16, including means adjustably mounting said projecting member on said body so that the member can be properly adjusted thereon to assure accurate coordination with the carriage scale marking aligned with the document end when the gauging means on said projecting member registers with the corresponding marking on the scale extending parallel to the runner bar. 